Hot Rods How can i brighten up my brake {stop} lights? on the 56 Buick?

Wells its been 2 years yesterday to the day{SAT} since I got the 56 buick wagon.The guy that brought it down for me came down from up north and wanted a ride. Went out for about a 20 minute ride. I was stopped at a red light and guy comes flying up behind us and slams on his brakes at the last second. I know the brake lights aren't the brightest .Is there a way to brighten them up a little? When driving I never know when people that come fly up behind me if they don't see me or just want to read the sticker in the rear window. lol. Thanks Bruce.

 

First make sure the inside of the ***embly is clean then paint the reflector area around the bulb a bright white. If it still is dim buy one of the LED inserts that replace the stock incandescent bulb. That should do it.

 

Julianos rod shop has several adapters the allow you to mount 35 watt halogen running lights and 55 watt stop/signal lights. I used one of their kits slightly modified to make my small dim lights on my coupe more noticeable. So far so good. Not tradional but you could put in L E D bulbs, with the appropriate electronic flasher for signals operation.

 

I have used the Halogen bulbs from Bob Drake,they are more expensive than your common 1157 type bulb but considerably brighter.

The LED bulbs are a alternative,not traditional but from a safety standpoint and all the idiots out there on cell phones and texting any additional brightness might help. HRP

 

2057 bulb is a little brighter

 

It's a 12v system, so you should be able to get good, bright lights. I had a
55 Buick and they were very bright.

Check your grounds through the entire system. Also check the sockets & bulbs themselves to see if there's any corrosion. 2057

Like Swade41 said, try a 2057 bulb - the bulb life is shorter than am 1157, but they're much brighter.

 

No need to go exotic or expensive. Just clean the reflectors and paint them bright white as has been mentioned. Don't forget to clean the inside of your tail light lenses. Be careful when using bright incandescent bulbs as they generate much more heat and might discolor or even melt your red lenses or the clear refraction lenses if you have them. I use regular 1157's in my '55 Buick with white-painted relectors and they are just fine.

 

Wire can go bad. Replace the light wires from the switch back. Then check them for brightness. Use direct from the battery and then thru the switch, there can be bad contacts inside the switch. Grounds are important as well.

 

Thanks guys I try painting it white inside and the 2057 bulb.Bruce.

 

I got a roll of aluminum foil tape, that is used in air conditioning field, and taped the whole inside
of the housing. That stuff sticks to anything. wash lens, and check grounds..

 

Verde, darn, I have a whole roll of that tape .Maybe I will try that with the new bulbs.ThanksBruce.

 

I've tried the foil, polished stainless steel and even chrome behind the bulbs, but found that gloss white paint provided the best reflection.

 

As he said.

Cosmo

 

And if the stickers on your rear window are a distraction to the *****s behind you, I would remove them too. And maybe a third brake light up in the upper half of the tail-gate.

 

The white paint in the background helps, also I've used aluminum foil shiney side out behind the bulbs, and you can take a plastic cd/dvd trim to shape and enlarge the hole so the bulb base fits thru shiney side out to reflect the light. I've used all three at times for small low light tail/stop lights.

 

I have used these guys for many projects when rebilding tail lights, yea not trad, but will save your's and your vehciles ****. They have bulbs, sockets and other parts and are far less expensive than resellers (where do you think they get theres?) And they will do small orders.
http://cl***ic.superbrightleds.com/

 

I argued and insisted that 'chrome' is more reflective than white. Common sense. But my son did the experiments on his '27 roadster...White was 20% brighter than chrome foil (used for trim on model cars: bright stuff.)
Mt F100's Shield taillight housings are now bright refrigerator white inside, with #2057 bulbs from Wal-Mart. (under $5)
Very bright.

 

Not a good idea as the higher lamp load will be hard on your turn signal/brake light switches (killed my brake light switch). Another vote for cleaning/checking the connections to the lamp and painting the inside of the housing...

 

Belair, that was my next move .I had the same problem with my 1956 Chrysler windsor .I found an old timey stop light and installed it on the back deck of the Chrysler .It helped a lot. Thanks Bruce.

 

I painted the inside and put in the different light bulbs .Theres a big difference

 

Watch those 2057 bulbs ... they'll melt lenses if you forget to keep your foot off the brake pedal for extended waits ...

 

That's why I took out the other piece of plastic that was in there out .ThanksBruce.